Home For Christmas…

Otis

“Listen – Otis Redding – White Christmas – MP3″

“Listen – Otis Redding – Merry Christmas Baby – MP3″

Greetings all.

Like the hero of some lame TV movie, I have been sprung from my hospital bed just in time for Christmas.
This’ll be quick, since I’m pretty tired, but the deal is this….
I was feeling sick for a couple of weeks after passing a positively titanic kidney stone (the latest in a long line of the same spread out over the last ten years or so). By late Saturday night, things came to a head and a I figured that as soon as Sunday morning arrived, I’d make a trip to the local Emergency Room.
Good thing I did, because after a few tests it was apparent that my kidneys were not functioning correctly, and after a CT scan it was revealed that one of my kidneys was not functioning at all and probably hadn’t been for quite some time (I believe the experts refer to it as acute renal failure).
The doctor said that if I’d waited a little bit longer I would have ended up on dialysis. As is, I spent four days in the hospital, getting probed, tested and drained, and as a result my one “good” kidney appears to be up and running again (though I will have to go back in to have another rather large stone removed in a few weeks).
Like I said before, I’ve been dealing with kidney stones for a long time, and had come to the point where I kind of figured it was my lot to suffer through them as they appeared, and move on with my life.BIG MISTAKE…If you are unfortunate enough to experience kidney stones, get thee to a urologist post haste and find out why (they are occurring). If I’d done that, I might still have two kidneys to work with, instead of one, which I will now have to handle with kid gloves for the rest of my life.
No matter though, because although I’m tired, I’m not really in any pain and nothing is more satisfying than being home to spend Christmas Eve with my wife and sons, and Christmas with the rest of my family.
That said…I only return to you this evening because I had already digi-ma-tized and uploaded these selections specifically for Christmas, and they ought not go to waste.
I’d like to thank everyone that stopped by in the previous thread to send your good wishes. It really warmed my heart (which as far as I can tell is still healthy) to see those sentiments (read via my cell phone*) while I was trapped in a hospital bed, watching stupid reality TV and eating lame hospital grub.
The tunes I bring you today are of course by the man that I consider to be the greatest soul singer of all time, Otis Redding. These two amazing performances – one melancholy, one upbeat – both happed to have appeared on opposite sides of one very good 45.
I hope you dig the tunes, and (though I’ll be running from doctor to doctor next week) I’ll probably be posting something for New Years.

Peace, Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah!

Larry

*I didn’t actually make that last post from the hospital. I dictated it to my lovely wife and walked her through posting it over the phone.

PS I’m not sure if the Christmas show I did for Viva Internet Radio is going to be on tomorrow night. It wasn’t completed when I went into the hospital, and I may have missed the deadline…

The thought of you typing away on a laptop while hospitalized to get up your last post made me think you deserve to be named King of the Bloggers. Now that you’ve admitted dictating it to your wife and having her put it up, I think you should probably be promoted to God of the Bloggers. That’s some devotion to the cause.

So glad to hear you made it out of the hospital in one piece, and in time to celebrate Christmas at home witchyer family. Reminds me of when my appendix went bad two years ago, coincidentally while I was down in nearby Ocean Grove, NJ – and as with you, it was a REALLY GOOD THING I finally gave up on trying to endure my “stomach ache” and actually went to see a doctor.

Thanks again for all the great music and good reads; but really, man, get some rest ;)

Hurrah!!! Great news that you got home for christmas.I,as I’m sure like many others dont know you personaly,but through your postings over the years it does feel like I know you. So it was pretty upsetting to here of your problems
Take it easy Larry and a very happy christmas and peaceful New year to you and your family.
Best wishes Tony.

Hi Larry,
I’m really sorry to hear that you have been in hospital and I am delighted that you made it home to spend Christmas with your family. No-one would have blamed you for not posting at this time, but thanks a million for sharing not only your thoughts, but also your music.
As Tony C says, we’ve never met and probably won’t in the foreseeable future as I’m in England, but you are an important part of my life and the lives of so many other people.
I raise a late night glass to you and to your speedy recovery.
Best Wishes
Dave (ChuffingHog)

Sorry to hear of your troubles. Makes my head cold seem a little insignificant in comparison. Can’t believe you kept posting through it all. Thanks for all the great music. Here’s wishing you a healthy and happy new year…

Hi there! I only just discovered your website and I must say I’m amazed with the stuff u put online.. Man, u sure delivered me an outta this world christmas. Thanks a million. And, I understand u just got out of hospital. Good for you, man. Hope u can enjoy the holidays as much as I’m doing thanks to you! Cheers.